Course Description

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, and it is responsible for maintaining thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. The system controls four primary environmental parameters simultaneously: temperature, which is the most obvious parameter; humidity, which affects both comfort and health; air movement, which influences the sensation of freshness; and air cleanliness, which involves the removal of particulate and gaseous contaminants. HVAC typically accounts for forty to sixty percent of a commercial building's total energy consumption, making it the largest single energy end-use in most facilities. Heating adds thermal energy to a space to compensate for heat loss through the building envelope during cold weather conditions, using sources such as natural gas, electricity, or hot water. Ventilation replaces or dilutes indoor air with outdoor air to remove contaminants such as carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and odors, while also providing oxygen for occupants. Air conditioning removes both sensible heat, which is the heat you feel as temperature, and latent heat, which is the moisture content, from a space to maintain comfort during warm or humid conditions. Modern HVAC systems also include filtration components that remove particulate matter down to very small sizes, as well as activated carbon filters for volatile organic compounds and biological contaminants such as mold spores and bacteria. The ultimate goal of any HVAC system is to provide the required comfort conditions at the lowest possible lifecycle cost, which includes first cost, operating cost, maintenance cost, and replacement cost over the system's expected life.

What you'll learn in this course?

• Identify the major types of HVAC systems and their primary components.

• Explain the working principles of chillers, boilers, AHUs, FCUs, and VRF systems.

• Select appropriate air distribution and terminal devices for different building types.

• Analyze the role of pumps, fans, cooling towers, and heat exchangers in system efficiency.

• Apply basic troubleshooting and energy-saving strategies for HVAC equipment.

• Recognize common codes, standards (ASHRAE, SMACNA), and maintenance best practices.

• Module 1: Introduction to HVAC Systems (Slides 4-11)

• HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, and it is responsible for maintaining thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.

• The system controls four primary environmental parameters simultaneously: temperature, humidity, air movement, and air cleanliness.

• HVAC typically accounts for 40% to 60% of a commercial building’s total energy consumption, making it the largest single energy end-use in most facilities.

Prerequisites

• Basic engineering knowledge and familiarity with HVAC systems and engineering units